Method and apparatus for outputting and displaying image data

ABSTRACT

A method of outputting three-dimensional (3D) images, the method including: generating first-perspective image data and second-perspective image data to display the 3D image by converting a same two-dimensional (2D) image data; adding additional information indicating a relationship between the first-perspective image data and the second-perspective image data to the first-perspective image data and/or the second-perspective image data; and outputting the first-perspective image data and the second-perspective image data.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2008-0092417, filed Sep. 19, 2008, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/075,184, filed Jun. 24, 2008, in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

Aspects of the present invention relate to methods and apparatuses to output and display image data.

2. Description of the Related Art

Recently, dramatic developments in image processing technologies have resulted in more users demanding more realistic images. In particular, the number of users who could previously only watch two-dimensional (2D) images via screens but now demand realistic three-dimensional (3D) images continuously increases. Thus, technologies to provide 3D images are demanded.

According to a method of providing 3D images, an image may be generated as a 3D image. Specifically, a base image and a depth image are stored in a storage space. Then, a user reproduces 3D images by processing the base image and the depth image by using an image outputting device supporting reproduction of 3D images. However, such a method is unlikely to create an image as a 3D image. That is, in most cases, images are created as 2D images. Thus, technologies to reproduce 3D images by processing such 2D images are being used.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Aspects of the present invention provide methods and apparatuses to output and to display three-dimensional (3D) images.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of outputting 3D image data, the method including: generating first-perspective image data and second-perspective image data to display the 3D image by converting a same two-dimensional (2D) image data; generating additional information indicating a relationship between the first-perspective image data and the second-perspective image data; and outputting the first-perspective image data, the second-perspective image data, and the additional information.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the additional information may include pair information indicating that the first-perspective image data and the second-perspective image data are paired image data generated by converting the same 2D image data.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the first-perspective image data may be left-perspective image data, and the second-perspective image data may be right-perspective image data.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the additional information may include perspective information indicating that the first-perspective image data is the left-perspective image data, and the second-perspective image data is the right-perspective image data.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of displaying 3D image data, the method including: receiving first-perspective image data and second-perspective image data, which are generated by converting a same 2D image data and are to display a 3D image; receiving additional information indicating a relationship between the first-perspective image data and the second-perspective image data; and displaying the first-perspective image data and the second-perspective image data based on the additional information.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the additional information may include pair information indicating that the first-perspective image data and the second-perspective image data are paired image data generated by converting the same 2D image data.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the first-perspective image data may be left-perspective image data, and the second-perspective image data may be right-perspective image data.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the additional information may include perspective information indicating that the first-perspective image data is the left-perspective image data, and the second-perspective image data is the right-perspective image data.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the first-perspective image data may be stored in a first buffer, of a plurality of buffers classified according to a predetermined standard, and the second-perspective image data may be stored in a second buffer, of the plurality of buffers.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the first-perspective image data and the second-perspective image data may be repeatedly displayed for a predetermined number of times.

According to an aspect of the present invention, when the first-perspective image data and the second-perspective image data have been repeatedly displayed for the predetermined number of times, the first-perspective image data and the second-perspective image data may be deleted from the first and second buffers, respectively.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image data outputting device including: a generating unit to generate first-perspective image data and second-perspective image data to display a 3D image by converting a same 2D image data; an adding unit to add additional information indicating a relationship between the first-perspective image data and the second-perspective image data to the first-perspective image data and/or the second-perspective image data; and an outputting unit to output the first-perspective image data and the second-perspective image data.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image data displaying device including: a receiving unit to receive first-perspective image data and second-perspective image data, which are generated by converting a same 2D image data and are to display a 3D image, and to receive additional information indicating a relationship between the first-perspective image data and the second-perspective image data; and a displaying unit to display the first-perspective image data and the second-perspective image data based on the additional information.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of outputting three-dimensional (3D) image data, the method including: generating first-perspective image data and second-perspective image data to display a 3D image by converting a same two-dimensional (2D) image data; generating additional information indicating a relationship between the first-perspective image data and the second-perspective image data; and displaying the first-perspective image data and the second-perspective image data based on the additional information.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image data outputting device including: a generating unit to generate first-perspective image data and second-perspective image data to display a three-dimensional (3D) image by converting a same two-dimensional (2D) image data; and a displaying unit to display the first-perspective image data and the second-perspective image data based on the additional information indicating a relationship between the first-perspective image data and the second-perspective image data.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image data outputting system, including: an image data outputting device including: a generating unit to generate first-perspective image data and second-perspective image data to display a three-dimensional (3D) image by converting a same two-dimensional (2D) image data, an adding unit to add additional information indicating a relationship between the first-perspective image data and the second-perspective image data to the first-perspective image data and/or the second-perspective image data, and an outputting unit to output the first-perspective image data and the second-perspective image data; and an image data displaying device including: a receiving unit to receive the first-perspective image data, the second-perspective image data, and the additional information, and a displaying unit to display the first-perspective image data and the second-perspective image data based on the additional information.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of outputting three-dimensional (3D) image data, the method including: generating additional information indicating a relationship between first-perspective image data and second-perspective image data that are generated from a same two-dimensional (2D) image data to display a 3D image.

Additional aspects and/or advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image data outputting device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2A is a diagram showing a detailed configuration of the image data outputting device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 2B is a diagram showing an example wherein an image data outputting unit according to an embodiment of the present invention outputs 3D image data to which additional information is added;

FIG. 2C is a diagram showing another example wherein the image data outputting unit outputs 3D image data to which additional information is added;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the image data displaying device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an image data displaying device according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of displaying 3D image data by using the image data displaying device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 6A to 6C are diagrams of a storage unit within the image data displaying device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a method of outputting image data according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a method of displaying image data according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the present embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below in order to explain the present invention by referring to the figures.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image data outputting device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, the image data outputting device 100 includes a generating unit 110, an adding unit 120, and an outputting unit 130. While not required, the image data outputting device 100 can be a transmission device, a data recorder that records the data on a recording medium, a workstation, a desktop computer, a notebook computer, etc., and can be implemented using one or more computers and/or processors whose functions are executed using software/firmware.

The generating unit 110 generates three-dimensional (3D) image data by converting two-dimensional (2D) image data into 3D image data. Here, 2D image data is image data used to reproduce 2D images, whereas 3D image data is image data used to reproduce 3D images. Specifically, when reproducing a stereoscopic image, the generating unit 110 converts 2D image data and generates left-perspective image data and right-perspective image data. According to the present embodiment, the left-perspective image data is image data for a left eye of a viewer, and the right-perspective image data is image data for a right eye of the viewer. When reproducing a multi-perspective image in three or more perspectives, the generating unit 110 converts 2D image data and generates three or more pieces of image data in different perspectives. For convenience of explanation, it will be assumed that a stereoscopic image is being reproduced and descriptions thereof will focus on left-perspective image data, though it is understood that aspects of the present invention are not limited thereto. That is, aspects of the present invention, as described below, can also be applied to right-perspective image data, and to a case where a multi-perspective image is reproduced in three or more perspectives.

The adding unit 120 adds additional information to at least one piece of generated 3D image data. The adding unit 120 may add additional information to each piece of generated 3D image data. Here, additional information is information indicating relationships among 3D image data generated by the generating unit 110 converting the same 2D image data, and may be in any format. For example, pair information and/or perspective information may be included in additional information. Pair information is information indicating that left-perspective image data and right-perspective image data are a pair when the left-perspective image data and the right-perspective image data are generated by the generating unit 110 converting the same 2D image data. Perspective information is information indicating whether an item of the generated 3D image data is left-perspective image data or right-perspective image data. The adding unit 120 may record the pair information and/or the perspective information to a plurality of bit strings. For example, the adding unit 120 may record the pair information in upper 4-bits of 8-bits existing in a predetermined region of 3D image data, and/or may record the perspective information in lower 4-bits of the 8-bits, though it is understood that aspects of the present invention are not limited thereto. For example, the adding unit 120 may record the pair information in the lower 4-bits of 8-bits existing in a predetermined region of 3D image data, and/or may record the perspective information in the upper 4-bits of the 8-bits.

Pair information is information to indicate 2D image data used to generate 3D image data, and a plurality of pieces of 3D image data generated by converting the same 2D image data may have the same pair information. Types of pair information may vary according to various embodiments. For example, according to an embodiment of the present invention, pair information may be classified into 16 types according to sequences of 2D image data used to generate 3D image data. In this case, pair information of 3D image data generated by the generating unit 110 converting first 2D image data may have a value “0000,” and pair information of 3D image data generated by the generating unit 110 converting second 2D image data may have a value “0001.” In this regard, pair information of 3D image data generated by the generating unit 110 converting sixteenth 2D image data may have a value “1111,” and pair information of 3D image data generated by the generating unit 110 converting seventeenth 2D image data may have a value “0000” again, though it is understood that other embodiments are not limited thereto. For example, according to another embodiment of the present invention, the pair information may be classified into two types depending on whether 2D image data used to generate 3D image data are even-numbered 2D image data or odd-numbered 2D image data. In this case, 3D image data generated by the generating unit 110 converting even-numbered 2D image data may have a value “0000,” and 3D image data generated by the generating unit 110 converting odd-numbered 2D image data may have a value “1111.”

Perspective information may vary according to a number of pairs of 3D image data to be generated by the generating unit 110 converting 2D image data. If stereoscopic images are to be reproduced, perspective information may be limited to two types. For example, perspective information of left-perspective image data may have a value “0000,” and perspective information of right-perspective image data may have a value “1111.” Thus, additional information regarding left-perspective image data generated by the generating unit 110 converting even-numbered 2D image data may include a bit string having a value “00000000,” and additional information regarding right-perspective image data generated by the generating unit 110 converting the same 2D image data may include a bit string having a value “00001111.” In this regard, additional information regarding left-perspective image data generated by the generating unit 110 converting odd-numbered 2D image data may include a bit string having a value “11110000,” and additional information regarding right-perspective image data generated by the generating unit 110 converting the same 2D image data may include a bit string having a value “11111111.”

The outputting unit 130 transmits the 3D image data, to which the additional information is added by the adding unit 120, to an image data displaying device 300 described below.

In the embodiment described above with reference to FIG. 1, the generating unit 110 in the image data outputting device 100 generates 3D image data by converting 2D image data and generates additional information indicating relationships among the 3D image data. However, according to another embodiment of the present invention, the generating unit 110 may not generate the additional information. Instead, the generating unit 110 or the adding unit 120 may obtain additional information generated in advance and/or externally and transmit the additional information to the image data displaying device 300 together with 3D image data.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the image data outputting device 100 may further include a receiving unit (not shown). The receiving unit receives metadata including additional information from an external server via a network system and/or from a broadcasting server that provides a cable broadcasting service via a cable network, though it is understood that aspects of the present invention are not limited thereto. For example, according to other aspects, the receiving unit may receive the metadata from an external storage device (such as a server) via any wired and/or wireless connection (such as USB, Bluetooth, Infrared, etc.). According to another embodiment of the present invention, the image data outputting device 100 may further include a reading unit (not shown). In this case, 2D image data and/or 3D image data generated by the generating unit 110 converting 2D image data is recorded in a recording medium. Furthermore, metadata including additional information may also be recorded on the recording medium. The reading unit may read the recording medium, obtain metadata therefrom, and transmit the metadata to the image data displaying device 300 together with the 3D image data.

FIG. 2A is a diagram showing a detailed configuration of the image data outputting device 100 shown in FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 2A, a decoder 210 decodes input 2D image data. The decoded 2D image data is transmitted to the generating unit 110. The generating unit 110 generates a 3D image data pair, which is to be used to generate 3D images, by converting the input 2D image data. The adding unit 120 adds additional information that indicates relationships among a plurality of 3D image data generated by the generating unit 110 converting the same 2D image data, to at least one of the 3D image data. As described above, the additional information may include pair information and/or perspective information.

According to the present embodiment, the adding unit 120 includes a perspective determining unit 122 and an information recording unit 124. The perspective determining unit 122 determines perspectives of a generated 3D image data pair. That is, the perspective determining unit 122 determines which of 3D image data items is left-perspective image data and which is right-perspective image data.

The information recording unit 124 adds pair information that indicates left-perspective image data and right-perspective image data from among a 3D image data pair generated by using the same 2D image data, and adds perspective information to each of the image data. Pair information and perspective information may be generated as metadata. However, aspects of the present invention are not limited thereto. For example, the pair information and/or the perspective information may be added by being recorded in a predetermined region within 3D image data.

The outputting unit 130 outputs a 3D image data pair to which the pair information and the perspective information are added by the information recording unit 124. If the outputting unit 130 outputs 3D image data at a transmitting rate of 60 Hz, it takes 1/30 of a second to completely output a 3D image data pair.

FIG. 2B is a diagram showing an example wherein an image data outputting unit according to an embodiment of the present invention outputs 3D image data to which additional information 231 is added. Referring to FIG. 2B, the additional information 231 is output as metadata regarding 3D image data 232 and 233. In this case, an output sequence may vary according to embodiments. The output sequence shown in FIG. 2B is the additional information 231, left-perspective image data 232, and right-perspective image data 233.

FIG. 2C is a diagram showing another example wherein the image data outputting unit outputs 3D image data to which additional information is added. Referring to FIG. 2C, additional pieces of information 242 and 244 are recorded in predetermined regions of 3D image data 241 and 243, respectively. In other words, the additional information 242 regarding left-perspective image data 241 is recorded in the left-perspective image data 241, and the additional information 244 regarding right-perspective image data 243 is recorded in the right-perspective image data 243. At this point, a sequence of outputting 3D image data may vary according to embodiments. In FIG. 2C, the 3D image data is output in the sequence of the left-perspective image data 241 followed by the right-perspective image data 243.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the image data displaying device 300 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 3, the image data displaying device 300 includes a receiving unit 310, an extracting unit 320, and a displaying unit 330. While not required, the image data displaying device 300 can be a workstation, a desktop computer, a notebook computer, a portable multimedia player, a television, a set-top box, a reproducing device that reads the image data from a medium, etc., and can be implemented using one or more computers and/or processors whose functions are executed using software/firmware.

The receiving unit 310 receives 3D image data from the image data outputting device 100. As described above, the received 3D image data includes additional information indicating relationships among 3D image data generated by converting the same 2D image data. The additional information includes pair information and/or perspective information. Pair information is information indicating that left-perspective image data and right-perspective image data generated by the generating unit 110 converting the same 2D image data are a 3D image data pair. Left-perspective image data and right-perspective image data having the same pair information can be determined as a 3D image data pair. Perspective information is information indicating whether 3D image data is left-perspective image data or right-perspective image data.

The extracting unit 320 extracts the additional information from the received 3D image data. The displaying unit 330 displays the 3D image data based on the additional information. More particularly, whether to display 3D image data is determined based on the pair information and the perspective information. If it is determined to display the 3D image data, a 3D image data display sequence is determined, and the displaying unit 330 displays the 3D image data according to the determined sequence. An example of displaying 3D image data will be described in detail later with reference to FIG. 5.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an image data displaying device 400 according to another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 4, the image data displaying device 400 includes a receiving unit 410, an extracting unit 420, a control unit 430, a storage unit 440, and a displaying unit 450. Here, operations of the receiving unit 410, the extracting unit 420, and the displaying unit 450 are similar to those of the receiving unit 310, the extracting unit 320, and the displaying unit 330 shown in FIG. 3, and thus detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted here.

The control unit 430 controls the image data displaying device 400 to store, to delete, and/or to display 3D image data, based on additional information. The storage unit 440 includes a plurality of buffers 442 through 448, which are defined according to a predetermined standard. The predetermined standard may vary according to embodiments. For example, the buffers 442 through 448 may be defined based on the perspective information and/or the pair information that are added to the 3D image data. The storage unit 440, which is controlled by the control unit 430, stores 3D image data in one or more of the plurality of buffers, transmits stored 3D image data to the displaying unit 450, and/or deletes stored 3D image data.

Hereinafter, operations of the image data displaying unit 450 will be described. As described above, the receiving unit 410 receives 3D image data from the image data outputting device 100. The received 3D image data is image data generated by the generating unit 110 converting 2D image data, and may include additional information. The additional information is information indicating relationships among 3D image data generated by the generating unit 110 converting the same 2D image data, and may include pair information and/or perspective information.

As an example, it is assumed that the pair information and the perspective information are indicated by using 8-bit strings within the 3D image data, wherein upper 4-bits of an 8-bit string indicates the pair information and lower 4-bits of the 8-bit string indicates the perspective information. The pair information may indicate whether the 3D image data is generated by the generating unit 110 converting even-numbered 2D image data or odd-numbered 2D image data. For example, if a value of the upper 4-bits is “0000,” the 3D image data is generated by the generating unit 110 converting even-numbered 2D image data. In contrast, if the value of the upper 4-bits is “1111,” the 3D image data is generated by the generating unit 110 converting odd-numbered 2D image data. The perspective information may indicate whether 3D image data is left-perspective image data or right-perspective image data. For example, if a value of the lower 4-bits is “0000,” the 3D image data is left-perspective image data. If the value of the lower 4-bits is “1111,” the 3D image data is right-perspective image data.

The extracting unit 420 extracts the pair information and the perspective information from the 3D image data. For example, as described above, if the extracted pair information and perspective information is “00000000,” the 3D image data is left-perspective image data generated by converting even-numbered 2D image data. Hereinafter, a 3D image data pair generated by converting even-numbered 2D image data will be referred as a first pair, and a 3D image data pair generated by converting odd-numbered 2D image data will be referred as a second pair. The control unit 430 selects a buffer, to which 3D image data is to be stored, based on the pair information and the perspective information. The storage unit 440 comprises four buffers 442, 444, 446, and 448. A first buffer 442 stores left-perspective image data of the first pair, and a second buffer 444 stores right-perspective image data of the first pair. A third buffer 446 stores left-perspective image data of the second pair, and a fourth buffer 448 stores right-perspective image data of the second pair. Thus, 3D image data having additional information indicated by the 8-bit string “00000000” is stored in the first buffer 442. However, it is understood that aspects of the present invention are not limited to the four buffers 442 through 448 classified by the pair information and the perspective information. According to other aspects, more or less buffers may be provided according to other classification schemes. For example, only two buffers may be provided, classified by the pair information or the perspective information.

Thereafter, the control unit 430 controls the storage unit 440 such that the 3D image data stored in the first buffer 442 is transmitted to the displaying unit 450. The displaying unit 450 may display the 3D image data in a sequence of displaying left-perspective image data of a pair and successively displaying right-perspective image data of the same pair or vice versa.

The control unit 430 controls the display unit 450 and the storage unit 440 such that the 3D image data is repeatedly displayed a predetermined number of times and is deleted from a buffer 442, 444, 446, or 448. Displaying and buffering the 3D image data will be described in detail later with reference to FIGS. 5, 6A, and 6B. The displaying unit 450 displays the transmitted 3D image data.

A conventional image data outputting device generates 3D image data by converting 2D image data and transmits the 3D image data to an image data displaying device without adding additional information, such as pair information and/or perspective information. An image data displaying device alternately displays left-perspective image data and right-perspective image data in a sequence that the 3D image data is received. Here, a user watches left-perspective image data via his or her left eye and watches right-perspective image data via his or her right eye by using an auxiliary device to watch 3D images (e.g., 3D glasses or goggles).

Even a conventional method enables a user to watch 3D images in the case where 3D image data is sequentially transmitted and displayed. However, in the case where 3D image data is not sequentially transmitted or some pieces of 3D image data are not transmitted and/or displayed due, for example, to a power failure, a user cannot watch the 3D images. For example, it is assumed that, while a user is watching left-perspective image data via his or her left eye, power supplied to an image data displaying device temporarily fails, and left-perspective image data is received again when power supply to the image data displaying device is recovered. In this case, 3D image data does not include perspective information, and thus the image data displaying device cannot determine whether the newly received 3D image data is left-perspective image data or right-perspective image data. Therefore, without separate synchronization, the image data displaying device may determine left-perspective image data as right-perspective image data. In this case, a user watches left-perspective image data via his or her right eye and right-perspective image data via his or her left eye, and thus the 3D effect cannot be sufficiently experienced. However, the image data displaying device 300, 400 according to aspects of the present invention uses perspective information included in 3D image data such that left-perspective image data is viewed via the left eye and right-perspective image data is viewed via the right eye. Thus, a user can watch 3D images without distortion.

Furthermore, pair information is not included in conventional 3D image data. Thus, the image data displaying device 300, 400 may not be able to display both left-perspective image data and right-perspective image data, and the image data displaying device 400 may only partially display a 3D image data pair and then display a next pair. In this case, the 3D effect cannot be sufficiently experienced by a user due to overlapping of images. However, the image data displaying device 300, 400 according to aspects of the present invention guarantees the display of both left-perspective image data and right-perspective image data by using pair information included in 3D image data. Thus, a user can watch natural 3D images.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of displaying 3D image data by using the image data displaying device 400 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 5, 3D image data output from the image data outputting device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention are shown in chronological order in the lower part of FIG. 5. Here, if the image data outputting device 100 outputs 3D image data at a rate of 60 Hz, the unit of time is set to 1/60 of a second.

3D image data according to aspects of the present invention includes pair information and perspective information. In the present example, pair information is indicated by an upper bit between two bits included in the 3D image data, and perspective information is indicated by a lower bit. Specifically, 3D image data where a bit indicating pair information (i.e., the upper bit) is 0 is generated by using even-numbered 2D image data, whereas 3D image data where a bit indicating pair information is 1 is generated by using odd-numbered 2D image data. Furthermore, 3D image data where a bit indicating perspective information (i.e., the lower bit) is 0 is left-perspective image data, whereas 3D image data where a bit indicating perspective information is 1 is right-perspective image data.

At 1/60 of a second, 3D image data 501 is output. In the 3D image data 501, both a bit indicating pair information and a bit indicating perspective information are 0. Thus, it is clear that the 3D image data 501 is left-perspective image data generated by using even-numbered 2D image data. At 2/60 of a second, 3D image data 502 is output. In the 3D image data 502, a bit indicating pair information is 0, and a bit indicating perspective information is 1. Thus, it is clear that the 3D image data 502 is right-perspective image data generated by using even-numbered 2D image data. Furthermore, it is clear that the 3D image data 501 and the 3D image data 502 are paired image data, as the 3D image data 501 and the 3D image data 502 have the same pair information, have different perspective information, and are transmitted successively.

At 3/60 of a second, 3D image data 503 is output. In the 3D image data 503, a bit indicating pair information is 1, and a bit indicating perspective information is 0. Therefore, it is clear that the 3D image data 503 is left-perspective image data generated by using odd-numbered 2D image data. Furthermore, since pair information of the 3D image data 502 and 503 are different from each other, it is clear that the 3D image data 502 and the 3D image data 503 are not paired image data.

3D image data displayed by the image data displaying device 300, 400 according to aspects of the present invention are shown in chronological order in the upper part of FIG. 5. At 1/60 of a second, the 3D image data 501 is received from the image data outputting device 100, and the received 3D image data 501 is stored in the storage unit 440. At 2/60 of a second, the 3D image data 502 is received from the image data outputting device 100, and the received 3D image data 502 is stored in the storage unit 440. At 3/60 of a second, the 3D image data 503 is received from the image data outputting device 100, and the received 3D image data 503 is stored in the storage unit 440. At this point, the image data displaying device 400 displays stored left-perspective image data (that is, the 3D image data 501).

At 3.5/60 of a second, no 3D image data is received from the image data outputting device 100, as the 3D image data in the present embodiment is received every 1/60 of a second. Here, the image data displaying device 400 displays stored right-perspective image data (that is, the 3D image data 502). In the prior art, received image data has to be displayed continuously at a point of time when no image data is received from the image data outputting device 100. Therefore, a 3D image data pair is displayed every 1/30 of a second. However, stored 3D image data is used in the present embodiment, and thus an image data pair can be displayed every 1/60 of a second.

At 4/60 of a second, 3D image data 504 is received from the image data outputting device 100, and the received 3D image data 504 is stored in the storage unit 440. At this point, the image data displaying device 400 displays the 3D image data 501. Since the 3D image data 501 is repeatedly displayed twice, the 3D image data 501 is deleted from the storage unit 440. At 4.5/60 of a second, no 3D image data is received from the image data outputting device 100. At this point, the image data displaying device 400 displays the 3D image data 502. Since the 3D image data 502 is repeatedly displayed twice, the 3D image data 502 is deleted from the storage unit 440.

In the prior art, when a conventional image data outputting device outputs image data every 1/60 of a second, the image data displaying device 400 displays one image data every 1/60 of a second. Accordingly, in the case of displaying 2D image data, it takes 1/60 seconds to display a scene. However, in the case of displaying 3D image data, it takes 2/60 of a second to display a scene, because a user can watch a scene after two pieces of 3D image data are displayed. However, images appear more natural to a user when a scene is displayed every 1/60 of a second. Thus, 3D images displayed by the conventional image data displaying device do not seem natural to a user, compared to those displayed according to aspects of the present invention. That is, the image data displaying device 300, 400 according to aspects of the present invention classifies and stores received 3D image data by using a plurality of buffers, and repeatedly displays 3D image data a predetermined number of times by using stored 3D image data. Thus, a 3D image data pair can be displayed every 1/60 of a second. Therefore, a user can watch natural 3D images.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are diagrams of the storage unit 440 of the image data displaying device 400 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIGS. 6A and 6B, the storage unit 440 of the image data displaying device 400 includes the first buffer 442, the second buffer 444, the third buffer 446, and the fourth buffer 448.

The first buffer 442 stores left-perspective image data of the first pair, and the second buffer 444 stores right-perspective image data of the first pair. The third buffer 446 stores left-perspective image data of the second pair, and the fourth buffer 448 stores right-perspective image data of the second pair. In FIGS. 6A and 6B, 3D image data where a bit indicating pair information is 0 is 3D image data of the first pair, and 3D image data where a bit indicating pair information is 1 is 3D image data of the second pair.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6A, operations of the storage unit 440 at a time frame between 1/60 of a second and 2.5/60 of a second will now be described. At 1/60 of a second, the 3D image data 501 is received from the image data outputting device 100, and the received 3D image data 501 is stored in the storage unit 440. In the 3D image data 501, a bit indicating pair information is 0, and a bit indicating perspective information is also 0. Thus, the 3D image data 501 is stored in the first buffer 442. At 1.5/60 of a second, no data is received from the image data outputting device 100. At 2/60 of a second, the 3D image data 502 is received from the image data outputting device 100, and the received 3D image data 502 is stored in the storage unit 440. In the 3D image data 502, a bit indicating pair information is 0, and a bit indicating perspective information is 1. Thus, the 3D image data 502 is stored in the second buffer 444. At 2.5/60 of a second, no data is received from the image data outputting device 100.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6B, operations of the storage unit 440 at a time frame between 3/60 of a second and 4.5/60 of a second will now be described. At 3/60 of a second, the 3D image data 503 is received from the image data outputting device 100, and the received 3D image data 503 is stored in the storage unit 440. In the 3D image data 503, a bit indicating pair information is 1, and a bit indicating perspective information is 0. Thus, the 3D image data 503 is stored in the third buffer 446. At this point, the 3D image data 501 stored in the first buffer 442 is output to the displaying unit 450. At 3.5/60 of a second, no data is received from the image data outputting device 100. At this point, the 3D image data 502 stored in the second buffer 444 is output to the displaying unit 450. At 4/60 of a second, the 3D image data 504 is received from the image data outputting device 100, and the received 3D image data 504 is stored in the storage unit 440. In the 3D image data 504, a bit indicating pair information is 1, and a bit indicating perspective information is 1. Thus, the 3D image data 504 is stored in the fourth buffer 448. At this point, the 3D image data 501 stored in the first buffer 442 is output to the displaying unit 450. Since the 3D image data 501 stored in the first buffer 442 is displayed twice, the 3D image data 501 is deleted from the first buffer 442. At 4.5/60 of a second, no data is received from the image data outputting device 100. At this point, the 3D image data 502 stored in the second buffer 444 is output to the displaying unit 450. Since the 3D image data 502 stored in the second buffer 444 is displayed twice, the 3D image data 502 is deleted from the second buffer 444.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6C, operations of the storage unit 440 at a time frame between 5/60 of a second and 6.5/60 of a second will now be described. At 5/60 of a second, the 3D image data 505 is received from the image data outputting device 100, and the received 3D image data 505 is stored in the storage unit 440. In the 3D image data 505, a bit indicating pair information is 0, and a bit indicating perspective information is also 0. Thus, the 3D image data 505 is stored in the third buffer 442. At this point, the 3D image data 503 stored in the third buffer 444 is output to the displaying unit 450. At 5. 5/60 of a second, no data is received from the image data outputting device 100. At this point, the 3D image data 504 stored in the fourth buffer 448 is output to the displaying unit 450. At 6/60 of a second, the 3D image data 506 is received from the image data outputting device 100, and the received 3D image data 506 is stored in the storage unit 440. In the 3D image data 506, a bit indicating pair information is 0, and a bit indicating perspective information is 1. Thus, the 3D image data 506 is stored in the second buffer 444. At this point, the 3D image data 503 stored in the third buffer 446 is output to the displaying unit 450. Since the 3D image data 503 stored in the third buffer 446 is displayed twice, the 3D image data 503 is deleted from the third buffer 446. At 6.5/60 of a second, no data is received from the image data outputting device 100. At this point, the 3D image data 504 stored in the fourth buffer 448 is output to the displaying unit 450. Since the 3D image data 504 stored in the fourth buffer 448 is displayed twice, the 3D image data 504 is deleted from the fourth buffer 448.

In FIGS. 6A and 6B, one item of 3D image data 501 or 502 is displayed every 1/120 of a second by using the stored 3D image data 501 and 502. Thus, a 3D image data pair 501 and 502 is displayed every 1/60 of a second. According to other embodiments, an image data outputting rate of the image data outputting device 100 may be less than or greater than 60 Hz. For example, if the image data outputting rate is less than 60 Hz, the image data outputting device 100 may still be controlled to display a 3D image data pair every 1/60 of a second by adjusting the number of times 3D image data is repeatedly displayed (i.e., adjusting the number of times to be greater than two).

Furthermore, in FIGS. 6A and 6B, both left-perspective image data 501 and 503 and right-perspective image data 502 and 504 of a same pair are stored, and stored 3D image data 501 and 502 is displayed as soon as left-perspective image data 503 of a next pair is received. However, it is understood that aspects of the present invention are not limited thereto. For example, according to other aspects, stored left-perspective image data 501 may be displayed from when a pair of left-perspective image data and right-perspective image data 503 and 504 are received ( 2/60 of a second).

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a method of outputting image data according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 7, first-perspective image data and second-perspective image data to display a 3D image are generated in operation S710. The first-perspective image data and the second-perspective image data are generated by converting the same 2D image data. Additional information indicating relationships between the generated first-perspective image data and the generated second-perspective image data (operation S710) is generated, and the generated additional information is added to the first-perspective image data and/or the second-perspective image data in operation S720. That is, the additional information may be added to both the first-perspective image data and the second-perspective image data, or just one of the first-perspective image data and the second-perspective image data. The additional information may include pair information that indicates that the first-perspective image data and the second-perspective image data are an image data pair generated by converting the same 2D image data. Furthermore, the additional information may additionally or alternatively include perspective information that indicates whether each of the first-perspective image data and the second-perspective image data is left-perspective image data or right-perspective image data. Moreover, the pair information and the perspective information may be recorded within the first-perspective image data and the second-perspective image data. For example, the pair information may be recorded by using an upper 4-bits of 8-bits in a predetermined region of the first-perspective image data and the second-perspective image data, and the perspective information may be recorded by using a lower 4-bits of the 8-bits. The first-perspective image data and the second-perspective image data, to which additional information is added, are output in operation S730.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a method of displaying image data according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 8, first-perspective image data and second-perspective image data to display a 3D image are received in operation S810. The first-perspective image data and the second-perspective image data are generated by using the same 2D image data. According to aspects of the present invention, the first-perspective image data and the second-perspective image data include additional information. The additional information is information indicating relationships among 3D image data generated by converting the same 2D image data, and may include pair information and/or perspective information. Pair information is information indicating that first-perspective image data and second-perspective image data, generated by converting the same 2D image data, are paired image data. Perspective information is information indicating whether each of the first-perspective image data and the second-perspective image data is left-perspective image data or right-perspective image data. If the first-perspective image data is left-perspective image data, the second-perspective image data is right-perspective image data. If the first-perspective image data is right-perspective image data, the second-perspective image data is left-perspective image data.

The additional information is obtained from the first-perspective image data and the second-perspective image data in operation S820. The additional information may either be transmitted after being included in the first-perspective image data and/or the second-perspective image data, or be separately transmitted. In the case where the additional information is separately transmitted, the additional information may be separately received from an external server or an image data outputting device 100.

The first-perspective image data and the second-perspective image data are displayed based on the additional information in operation S830. Hereinafter, displaying the first-perspective image data will be described in detail under an assumption that the additional information includes pair information and perspective information. First, the received first-perspective image data is stored based on the pair information and perspective information. For example, the first-perspective image data may be stored in a first buffer 442 in which left-perspective image data of a first pair is stored, a second buffer 444 in which right-perspective image data of the first pair is stored, a third buffer 446 in which left-perspective image data of a second pair is stored, and a fourth buffer 448 in which right-perspective image data of the second pair is stored, as illustrated in FIG. 4. When the first-perspective image data and the second-perspective image data are both stored in the buffers, the first-perspective image data and the second-perspective image data are sequentially displayed. At this point, the first-perspective image data and the second-perspective image data are repeatedly displayed a predetermined number of times, and are deleted from the buffers after being repeatedly displayed the predetermined number of times.

While not restricted thereto, aspects of the present invention can also be written as computer programs and can be implemented in general-use or specific-use digital computers that execute the programs using a computer-readable recording medium. Examples of the computer-readable recording medium include magnetic storage media (e.g., ROM, floppy disks, hard disks, etc.) and optical recording media (e.g., CD-ROMs, or DVDs). Aspects of the present invention may also be realized as a data signal embodied in a carrier wave and comprising a program readable by a computer and transmittable over the Internet.

Although a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in this embodiment without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents. 

1. A method of outputting three-dimensional (3D) image data, the method comprising: generating first-perspective image data and second-perspective image data to display a 3D image by converting a same two-dimensional (2D) image data; generating additional information indicating a relationship between the first-perspective image data and the second-perspective image data; and outputting the first-perspective image data, the second-perspective image data, and the additional information.
 2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the additional information comprises pair information indicating that the first-perspective image data and the second-perspective image data are paired image data generated by converting the same 2D image data.
 3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first-perspective image data is left-perspective image data, and the second-perspective image data is right-perspective image data.
 4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the additional information comprises perspective information indicating that the first-perspective image data is the left-perspective image data, and/or that the second-perspective image data is the right-perspective image data.
 5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the generating of the additional information comprises: generating the additional information; and adding the generated additional information to the first-perspective image data and/or the second perspective image data.
 6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the generating of the additional information comprises generating the additional information as a bit string of the first-perspective image data and/or the second-perspective image data.
 7. A method of displaying image data, the method comprising: receiving first-perspective image data and second-perspective image data, which are generated by converting a same two-dimensional (2D) image data and are to display a three-dimensional (3D) image; receiving additional information indicating a relationship between the first-perspective image data and the second-perspective image data; and displaying the first-perspective image data and the second-perspective image data based on the additional information.
 8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the additional information comprises pair information indicating that the first-perspective image data and the second-perspective image data are paired image data generated by converting the same 2D image data.
 9. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the first-perspective image data is left-perspective image data, and the second-perspective image data is right-perspective image data.
 10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the additional information comprises perspective information indicating that the first-perspective image data is the left-perspective image data, and/or that the second-perspective image data is the right-perspective image data.
 11. The method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising: storing the received first-perspective image data and the received second-perspective image data.
 12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first-perspective image data is stored in a first buffer, of a plurality of buffers classified according to a predetermined standard, and the second-perspective image data is stored in a second buffer, of the plurality of buffers.
 13. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the plurality of buffers comprises: the first buffer corresponding to left-perspective image data of a first pair of received image data; the second buffer corresponding to right-perspective image data of the first pair; a third buffer corresponding to the left-perspective image data of a second pair of received image data; and a fourth buffer corresponding to the right-perspective image data of the second pair.
 14. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the displaying of the first-perspective image data and the second-perspective image data comprises repeatedly displaying the first-perspective image data and the second-perspective image data for a predetermined number of times.
 15. The method as claimed in claim 14, further comprising: storing the received first-perspective image data in a first buffer, of a plurality of buffers classified according to a predetermined standard, and storing the received second-perspective image data in a second buffer, of the plurality of buffers; and when the first-perspective image data and the second-perspective image data have been repeatedly displayed for the predetermined number of times, deleting the first-perspective image data and the second-perspective image data from the first and second buffers, respectively.
 16. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the first perspective image data is received every 1/N of a second, and the first perspective image data is displayed every 1/Y of a second, where N and Y are integers and N is less than Y
 17. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the receiving of the additional information comprises extracting the additional information from the first-perspective image data and/or the second-perspective image data.
 18. An image data outputting device comprising: a generating unit to generate first-perspective image data and second-perspective image data to display a three-dimensional (3D) image by converting a same two-dimensional (2D) image data; an adding unit to add additional information indicating a relationship between the first-perspective image data and the second-perspective image data to the first-perspective image data and/or the second-perspective image data; and an outputting unit to output the first-perspective image data and the second-perspective image data.
 19. The image data outputting unit as claimed in claim 18, wherein the additional information comprises pair information indicating that the first-perspective image data and the second-perspective image data are paired image data generated by converting the same 2D image data.
 20. The image data outputting unit as claimed in claim 18, wherein the first-perspective image data is left-perspective image data, and the second-perspective image data is right-perspective image data.
 21. The image data outputting unit as claimed in claim 19, wherein the additional information comprises perspective information indicating that the first-perspective image data is left-perspective image data and the second-perspective image data is right-perspective image data.
 22. An image data displaying device comprising: a receiving unit to receive first-perspective image data and second-perspective image data, which are generated by converting a same two-dimensional (2D) image data and are to display a three-dimensional (3D) image, and to receive additional information indicating a relationship between the first-perspective image data and the second-perspective image data; and a displaying unit to display the first-perspective image data and the second-perspective image data based on the additional information.
 23. The image data displaying device as claimed in claim 22, wherein the additional information comprises pair information indicating that the first-perspective image data and the second-perspective image data are paired image data generated by converting the same 2D image data.
 24. The image data displaying device as claimed in claim 22, wherein the first-perspective image data left-perspective image data, and the second-perspective image data is right-perspective image data.
 25. The image data displaying device as claimed in claim 24, wherein the additional information comprises perspective information indicating that the first-perspective image data is the left-perspective image data, and the second-perspective image data is the right-perspective image data.
 26. The image data displaying device as claimed in claim 22, further comprising: a storage unit comprising a plurality of buffers classified according to a predetermined standard; and a control unit to control the image data displaying device based on the additional information such that the first-perspective image data is stored in a first buffer, of the plurality of buffers, and the second-perspective image data is stored in a second buffer, of the plurality of buffers.
 27. The image data displaying device as claimed in claim 26, wherein the control unit controls the displaying unit to repeatedly display the first-perspective image data and the second-perspective image data for a predetermined number of times.
 28. The image data displaying device as claimed in claim 27, wherein the control unit further controls the image data displaying device such that the first-perspective image data and the second-perspective image data are deleted from the first and second buffers, respectively, in response to the displaying unit repeatedly displaying the first-perspective image data and the second-perspective image data for the predetermined number of times.
 29. The image data displaying device as claimed in claim 26, wherein the receiving unit receives perspective image data every 1/N of a second, and the displaying unit displays the received perspective image data every 1/Y of a second, where N and Y are integers and N is less than Y
 30. The image data displaying device as claimed in claim 22, wherein the receiving unit comprises an extracting unit to extract the additional information from the first-perspective image data and/or the second-perspective image data.
 31. A computer readable recording medium having recorded thereon a computer program for executing the method of claim 1 by at least one computer.
 32. A computer readable recording medium having recorded thereon a computer program for executing the method of claim 7 by at least one computer. 